S.Lakshmanan v. The Chief Election Commissioner of India

ORDER (Order of the Court was made by the Hon'ble Chief Justice) This writ petition, styled as public interest litigation, has been filed by the petitioner for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to conduct fresh polling in the six hamlets, namely R.Balakurichy,

R.Seegampatti,

Regunathapatti,

Vairanpatti, Vidathalampatti and Gopalpatti, geographically situated in Pudhukottai District and electorally a part of (185)-Tirupattur Legislative Assembly Constituency, Sivaganga District, and count the votes so polled along with the scheduled counting on 4th May, 2026 as per the Election Notification issued by the 1st respondent, so as to ensure effective participation of eligible electors and to safeguard the constitutional right to vote based on the petitioner's representation date 27.04.2026.

¶2The grievance of the petitioner is that the residents of R.Balakurichy,

R.Seegampatti,

Regunathapatti,

Vairanpatti, Vidathalampatti and Gopalpatti have been facing longstanding and continuing administrative hardships for several years on account of their peculiar geographical and administrative situation, inasmuch as the said six hamlets are geographically contiguous to and socially and economically integrated with the areas falling within Pudukottai District, but for electoral and certain administrative purposes have been attached to Tirupattur Legislative Assembly Constituency in Sivaganga District, thereby causing substantial inconvenience to the residents in accessing public services, administrative offices and developmental benefits. Due to this anomalous administrative arrangement, the residents of the aforesaid six hamlets have represented to the authorities concerned that said hamlets should be annexed or integrated with Pudukottai District so that the residents may receive efficient governance and timely administrative attention. All the villagers in the six hamlets collectively decided not to participate in the polling process during the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election, 2026 and, as a result, the entire number of eligible voters as published by the Election Commission of India abstained from voting on the polling day. On 27.4.2026, the petitioner sent e-mail representation to the second respondent requesting to conduct fresh polling in the 3 booths situated in R.Balakurichy and Regunathapatti for six villages. Despite the receipt of the representation, no adequate measures have been taken. Hence, the petitioner has filed the present writ petition.

¶3The election for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Constituencies was held on 23.4.2026 and the declaration of results is scheduled on

4.5.2026. Once the election is over, exercising jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, no relief, much less the prayer as sought by the petitioner in this writ petition, can be granted. It is for the respondents to decide the representation in accordance with law. We express no opinion. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed. No costs. (SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CJ) (G.ARUL MURUGAN,J)

30.04.2026 Index : : bbr To:

1.The Chief Election Commissioner of India Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi - 110 001.

2.The Chief Electoral Officer and The Principal Secretary to Government Public (Elections) Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009.

3.The District Election Officer (DEO) and The District Collector The District Collectorate, Sivaganga District,

4.The Returning Officer and The Assistant Commissioner (Excise) 185-Tirupattur Legislative Assembly Constituency, Sivaganga District, Collectorate, W.P.No.17679,of,2026 THE,HON'BLE,CHIEF,JUSTICE ,,,,AND ,G.ARUL,MURUGAN,,J., bbr W.P.No.17679,of,2026 ,,,,,

30.04.2026 Page,6,of,6

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 30.04.2026 CORAM : THE HONOURABLE MR. SUSHRUT ARVIND DHARMADHIKARI, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE G.ARUL MURUGAN S.Lakshmanan S/o.Late Subbiah, No.488, R.Palakurichy, Ponnamaravathy Taluk, Pudhukottai District - 622 407. Petitioner Vs 1.The Chief Election Commissioner of India Election Commission of India, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi - 110 001. 2.The Chief Electoral Officer and The Principal Secretary to Government Public (Elections) Department, Secretariat, Fort St. George, Chennai - 600 009. 3.The District Election Officer (DEO) and The District Collector The District Collectorate, Sivaganga District, 4.The Returning Officer and The Assistant Commissioner (Excise) 185-Tirupattur Legislative Assembly Constituency, Sivaganga District, Collectorate, Respondents PRAYER : Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India seeking issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the respondents 1 to 4 to conduct fresh polling in the six hamlets, namely R.Balakurichy, R.Seegampatti, Regunathapatti, Vairanpatti, Vidathalampatti and Gopalpatti, geographically situated in Pudhukottai District, and electorally a part of (185)-Tirupattur Legislative Assembly Constituency, Sivaganga District, and count the votes so polled along with the scheduled counting on 4th May, 2026 as per the Election Notification issued by the 1st respondent, so as to ensure effective participation of eligible electors, and to safeguard the constitutional right to vote based on the petitioner's representation date 27.04.2026 within such time frame as may be fixed by this Hon'ble Court. For Petitioner: Mr.V.Chandrasekaran Senior Panel Counsel for Mr.Niranjan S.Kumar For Respondents: Mr.Niranjan Rajagopalan Standing Counsel